Liz Archuleta. Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta, highly accomplished and nationally recognized leader, and former Coconino County Supervisor who has been serving as a presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture senior leadership team, has been chosen to be the new President & CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA).
“We are thrilled to have such a highly respected and accomplished leader as Liz join us,” said UWNA Board President Mike Kelly. “Her ties to UWNA and commitment to our program of work go back to 1997. During that time, she’s championed many efforts at UWNA. She’s been a Board chair, led an annual campaign and a capital campaign, been the chair of the Summit Society, and spearheaded a special 50th anniversary drive to support the KinderCamp program.”
In addition to her longstanding ties with UWNA, Kelly added, Archuleta also is an inspirational and innovative leader who brings an impressive network of local, state, and national connections to her new post.
Archuleta said she looks forward to advancing the work of UWNA, which works with partners in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties to improve lives and communities by investing in early childhood education, positive youth development, and helping families in times of crisis.
“Building upon the strong foundation through the work of the current President/CEO and Board of Directors, I envision a UWNA that continues to inspire new and current donors and volunteers to give by amplifying UWNA’s role as a community convener, a partner in community-based initiatives, and an agent of change,” said Archuleta, who will start her tenure on April 3.
Archuleta will succeed current President & CEO Carol Dykes, who plans to retire this spring after a 24-year career at UWNA.
“Liz has always been an integral part of United Way and an important partner as we work to step up for our communities and create lasting, positive change,” Dykes said. “I could not leave this organization in better hands.”
A fourth-generation resident, Archuleta became the first Latina elected to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors in 1996. During the 25 years she represented District 2, her leadership positioned the county to be a nationally recognized model of innovation, strong fiscal and budgetary management, justice reform, exemplary health and human services, and strong partnerships with rural and tribal communities.
In 2021, she was appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration to be the Director of the Office of External & Intergovernmental Affairs, where she has been responsible for cultivating key relationships with elected officials, government leaders, private sector CEOs, national trade associations and nonprofits on behalf of U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Earlier in her career, Archuleta was an official at Northern Arizona University, where she founded and directed numerous multicultural and diversity initiatives and outreach programs.